Ore-bin-locking device



C. ZOOG AND J. MUTCH.

ORE BIN LOCKING DEVICE.

- APPLICATION FILED APR 11. 1919.

1,33%,37 Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PEN? FKQE.

CHARLES ZOOG, OF GAR-Y, INDIANA, AND JOHN MUTCH, OF FAIRPORT HARBOR,OHIO.

ORE-BIN-LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed April 11, 1919.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES Zoos and J 01m Moron, citizens of theUnited States, and residents, respectively, of the city of Gary, in thecounty of Lake and State of Indiana, and city of Fairport Harbor, Lakecounty, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful improvements inOre-Bin-Locking Devices; and we do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same. reference being had tothe doors adapted to be operated to open the doors to permit dischargeof material, and furthermore adapted to be readily operated to close thedoors against the pressure of the discharging material.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an automatic lockingdevice for the door operating mechanisms of an ore bin.

Another object of the invention is the construction of an ore binmechanism whereby a bin door is permitted to be opened and closedagainst the weight of material being discharged through the dooropening.

A further object of the invention ,is the constructionof an automaticlOCkiIlg mechanism for a bin door adapted to be manually releasedsimultaneously with the starting of a material discharge mechanism topermit opening of the bin door for discharge of material.

It is furthermore an obj set of this invention to provide an ore binwith a counter weighted locking mechanism for the bin door, saidmechanism adapted to be controlled by manually operatable cables whichalso govern the operation of a mate-rial discharge device connected withone of the cables. I

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved andeffective mech- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 289,317.

anism for operating the discharge door of an ore or coal bin.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of an ore bin equipped with a dooroperating and lock ing mechanism embodying the principles of thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a number of adjaeently disposedore bins equipped with door operating mechanisms.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line. 3-43, of Fig. 2, showing thecylinder in elevation.

F ig. at is a sectional view taken on line H, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55, of Fig. 1, with parts omitted.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view taken on line 6-6, of Fig. 1.

As shown on the drawings:

It will be seen that a plurality of ore bins or hoppers may be arrangedadjacent one another, as shown in Fig. 9., and separated a sufficientdistance to accommodate the door operating and locking mechanisms ofthis invention. Since the door actuating mechanisms are identical foreach of the ore bins,

'a description of one set of the mechanisms only will be given.

The reference numeral 1, indicates the vertical side walls of an ore orcoal bin, pro vided with an inclinedbottom or floor 2, the lower end ofwhich terminates within the bin a short distance from the front endthereof. A front wall 3, closes the upper front portion of the bin, andhas the lower part thereof directed outwardly and downwardly to form aninclined plate 4, which, together with the side walls 1, forms adischarge chute the end of which is open to afford a discharge openingfor ore, coal or any other material carried in the bin. EX- tendingtransversely through the lower front portion of the bin is a shaft oraXle 5, journaled in the side walls 1, and extending therethrough topermit a large gear 6, to be secured on each projecting end thereof.Secured on the shaft 5, between the side walls 1, is a feeding cylinderor roll 7, disposed to the front and projecting above the lower edge ofthe inclined floor 2, as shown in Fig. 3. The cylinder 7, thus locatedserves as a partial stop for material in the bin.

Rotatably mounted to the outside of each of the side walls 1, is anintermediate gear 8, which meshes with its respective large gear 6.Meshing with each intermediate gear 8, is a small driving gear 9, keyedor otherwise secured on a driving shaft 10, journaled in the bin sidewalls 1. Also secured on each shaft 10, to the outside of the drivinggear 9, is a cam friction disk or eccentric roll 11, having a collar 12,integrally formed on the inner side thereof. An arm or lever 13, isintegrally formed'on each of the collars 12, for the purpose of rotatingthe respective friction cams. A friction driving roll 14, is mounted ona driving shaft 15, to the outside of each bin side wall 1, in aposition to be frictionally contacted by the respective cams 11, whenthe same are rotated by means of the levers 13. The driving shaft 15,projects transversely through the lower rear portion of the bin and maybe connected to any desired source of driving power.

Connected to the free end of each lever 13, is one end of a cable 16,which runs upwardly and forwardly and is supported upon a plurality ofrotatable sheaves 1'7, 18 and 19 respectively mounted on the outersurface of each of the side walls 1. Sheaves 20 and 21, are rotatablymounted on the under side of a horizontal platform 22, disposed to thefront of the bin and having the inner edge abutting the inclined frontplate 1. Said sheaves 20 and 21, are respectively disposed at theopposite sides of the bin and serve to permit the cable 16, on one sideof the bin to be conducted across the front of the bin and connected tothe opposite cable 16, to which a stirrup handle 23, is attached,adapted for sin'rultaneously tensioning both of the cables 16, onopposite sides of the bin. Pivotally mounted on the outside of each sldewall 1, and near the front edge thereof is the upper end of a lockingbar 24:, the other end of which is provided with a notch in one cornerthereof. Attached to the notched end of each locking bar 2%, is one endof a lock cable 25, which is trained around a sheave 26, and has the.other end thereof connected to the respective cable 16, on that side ofthe bin, as shown in Fig. 1.

A wei hted quadrant shaped locking member 2 is pivotally mounted to theoutside of each of the side walls 1, below the respective locking bars24. Each locking member 27, is provided with an angled pro- 'jection 28,on the curved edge thereof adapted to engage in the notch of therespective locking bar 2&. A stop 29, is integrally formed on theweighted inner por tion of each locking member. Pivotally attached toeach of the locking members 27,

is the upper or inner end of a link or bar 30, the outer or lower end ofwhich is pivotally connected to one side edge of a bin door 31. The door31, is pivotally supported on the front projecting portions of the sidewalls, 1, and normally closes the discharge opening of the bin. hen thedoor is closed the lower edge thereof is positioned to engage againstthe feeder cylinder 7. Connected to each locking member at the point ofpivotal attachment of the respective link 30, is one end of a doorclosing cable 32, which is trained around rotatably mounted sheaves 33and 34-, disposed to the inside of the respective sheaves 18 and 19, andshown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Sheaves 35, are rotatably supported onthe under side of the platform 22, adjacent the sheaves 20 and 21, andserve to permit the door closing cable 32, on one side of the bin to beconducted 85 across the front of the bin and secured to the p other doorclosing cable 32, to which a stirrup handle 36, is attached.

The operation is as follows As clearly shown in Fig. 2, each ore or coalbin, is equipped with a duplicate set of mechanisms mounted on oppositesides thereof adapted to be operated simultaneouslyto equalize thedriving and operating stresses applied to the discharge cylinder and thedoor of each bin. With the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 1, and withthe bin filled with ore, coal or any other similar material a truck,dump car or receptacle to be filled with ore is positioned in front ofthe bin and beneath the door 31 in position to receive ore when the dooris opened.

Normally the discharging mechanism and the door operating andcontrolling means are positioned as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, withthe door closed. To operate the ore discharging mechanism an operator orattendant takes hold of the handle 23, and pulls downwardly thereonthereby tensioning both of the cables 16, on opposite sides of the binand causing the levers 13, to swing upwardly into the dotted lineposition of Fig. 1. This movement of the levers 13, serves to move thecam members 11, into frictional engagement with the rotating 5 drivingrolls 14, which are secured on the driving shaft 15. A drive is thusimparted to the small gears 9, the gears 8, and to the large gears 6.Rotation of the gears 6, causes rotation of the feeder cylinder 7. Orewithin the bin falls by ravity and rests upon the cylinder 7, whidh whenr0- tated acts to carry ore over the top thereof against the door 31.

As disclosed in Fig. 1, the locking bars 24, are normally positioned toengage the corners 28, of the weighted quadrant members 27, to hold thedoor 31, locked in closed position. Tensioning of the main cables 16,

however, simultaneously tensions the auxiliary cables 25, connectedtherewith. The locking bars 24, being connected to the auxiliary cablesare thus pulled upwardly out of engagement with the weighted quadrantmembers 27, which being released permits the force of the ore on thefeeder cylinder to move the door 31, outwardly into open positionwhereby the ore is permitted to be discharged into the car positionedbelow the door for the purpose. The outward swing of the door 31, islimited by the stops 29, which engage the ends of the locking bars 241-.Opening of the door 31, acts to swing the weighted quadrant members 27,forwardly, thereby simultaneously exerting a pull on the cables 32, andcausing the handles 36, to move upwardly into the dotted line positionas shown in Fig. 1.

l/Vhen the car below the open door 31, is filled with ore, the handle23, is released permitting the levers 13, to fall back into normalposition and thereby move the cam members 11, out of frictionalengagement with the driving rolls 1%. The operation of the feedercylinder 7 is thus discontinued. The operator then pulls downwardly onthe handle 36, thereby tensioning both of the cables 32, and swingingthe quadrant members 27, rearwardly until the corners 28, thereof engagethe notches of the locking bars 24:. The weighted portions of thequadrant members 27, serve to assist in holding and moving the same intonormal looking position. With the return of the quadrant members 27, tonormal position a pull is exerted on the links 30, which acts to drawthe door 31, into closed position thus cutting off any discharge of theore from the bin.

It will be noted that pulling on the handle 23, acts to simultaneouslyrelease the door locking mechanisms and throw the ore discharging meansinto operation, as well as moving the door closing handle upwardly intothe dotted line position of Fig. 1. The locking bars 24, and thecontrolling quadrant members 27, co-act to hold the door locked inclosed position, and also permit opening of the door and limiting of theoutward swing thereof. The mechanisms associated with the bin may beconveniently operated by a single operator or attendant.

We are aware that various details of construction may be varied througha wide range without departing from the principles of our invention andwe therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted further thannecessitated by the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an ore bin device of the class described, a bin having a dischargeopening therein, a door for closing the opening, an ore dischargemechanism on said bin, a locking mechanism for said door, and meansconnected with said discharge mechanism and with said locking mechanismfor simultaneously actuating the same to open the door, and set thedischarge mechanism in operation.

2. An ore bin, a door therefor, a locking mechanism for said door, afeeder mechanism connected with said bin, and means connected with saidlocking mechanism and with said feeder mechanism for simultaneouslyopening the door and setting the feeder mechanism in operation.

3. An ore bin having an opening therein, a door for closing the same,locking means for holding the door locked in closed position, an oredischarge mechanism, means connecting said locking means and saidmechanism, and means for tensioning said connecting means forsimultaneously releasing said locking means to open the door andstarting said mechanism to permit ore to be discharged through said binopening.

at. An ore bin having an outlet opening therein, a door for closing saidopening, locking means for holding said door locked in closed position,a driving mechanism, a discharge mechanism, and means connected withsaid locking means and with said discharge mechanism adapted to beoperated to simultaneously release the locking means and throw thedischarge mechanism into engagement with the driving mechanism to permitore to be discharged through said opening.

5. An ore bin having an opening therein, a door for closing saidopening, a mechanism for holding said door locked in closed position, acable connected with said door and mechanism, and handle connected withthe cable to tension the same to release the locking mechanism andpermit opening of the door.

"6. The combination with an ore bin having an opening therein, a doorfor closing said opening, a locking mechanism for holding the doorlocked in closed position, a cable connected with said lockingmechanism, a handle attached to said cable for tensioning the same andcausing release of the locking mechanism to permit opening of the door,and means forming a part of the locking mechanism for limiting theopening of the door.

7. The combination with an ore bin door, of a link connected therewith,a pivoted quadrant member connected with said link, a pivoted lockingbar releasably engaging said quadrant member to hold the door locked inclosed position, a cable connected with said locking bar to permit thelocking bar to be moved into release position to permit opening of thedoor, and a second cable connected with said quadrant member for closingthe door and moving the quadrant member into position to be lockinglyengaged by said locking bar.

8. The combination with an ore bin door,

of a link connected therewith, a pivoted member connected with saidlink, a locking bar releasably engaging said member to hold the doorlocked in closed position, a cable connected with said bar adapted to betensioned tomove the bar into release position to permit opening of thedoor, means on said member for limiting the opening of the door, and asecond cable connected with said member adapted to be tensioned to closethe door and movesaid member into position to again be lockinglyuengagedby said bar to hold the door locked.

9. The combination with an ore bin door, of a pivoted member, alinkconnecting said door with said member, a stop integrally formed on saidmember, a notched locking bar normally engaging said member for holdingthe door locked in closed position, a cable connected to said lockingbar, a handle on said cable to permit tensioning of the cable wherebysaid locking bar is moved into release position to permit opening of thedoor, said stop adapted to contact said locking bar forlimiting theopening of said door, and means connected with said member for closingthe door and permitting said bar to automatically engage said member tohold the door locked in closed position.

10. The combination with a bin having an opening therein, a door forclosing said opening, locking means for the door, a feeder mechanismconnected with the bin, a friction drive associated therewith, andflexible means connected with said locking means and with said frictiondrive adapted to be tensioned to simultaneously release the lockingmeans to open the door and set the feeder mechanism in operation topermit material in the bin to be discharged through said opening.

11. The combination with amaterial carrying loin, of a door therefor, adoor looking mechanism and a feeder mechanism supported on the bin, anda plurality of connected simultaneouslyactuatable cables connected withsaid mechanisms for simultaneously actuating thesame to open the doorand actuate the feeder mechanism to permit discharge of the material.

a 12. A material carrying bin having an opening therein, a door closingsaid opening, cable controlled locking means for holding the door lockedin closed position, a cable controlled feeder mechanism on said binconnected with said locking means, a handle for releasing said lockingmeans'to open the door and starting said mechanism whereby material insaid bin is carried to be discharged through the opening, and cablecontrolled means connected with the locking means for moving the doorinto closed position to be again locked by said locking means.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in thepresence of witnesses.

CHAS. ZOOG. JOHN MUT CH.

Witnesses for Charles Zoog:

LAWRENCE RnIBsTErN, FRANK PROCHASKA.

Witnesses for John Mutch:

J. B. MITCHELL, MIKE VoLANsKI

